Poker = Texas Hold ‘Em, right? At least that’s what the World Series of Poker and all the big marquee live events series around the world would have you believe. Yes, it’s hands down the most popular variant of poker on the market today, but that of course doesn’t mean it’s the only one.
There are plenty of poker variants out there with niche audiences, and a specific one that doesn’t really get too much fanfare or media coverage, but it’s one I think you should be checking out: 2-7 Triple Draw Poker. It’s a fantastic alternative to the big hitters, and I’ll give you five compelling reasons why in this article.
There’s More to Poker Than Just Texas Hold ‘Em
I talked about this a little in the intro: poker is more than just Texas Hold ‘em. It’s more than Omaha or Seven-Card Stud. But people tend to stick to that trifecta (or at least the first two), whether you’re in gambling hubs like the UK or the United States, or growing/developing markets.
South Africa, for example, has seen a rapid rise in online gambling the past decade, with poker accounting for a huge chunk of market share. Onlinepoker in South Africa, however, is still dominated by the ‘Big Three’ like in the case of affiliates like casinos.co.za, where Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card stud are pretty much the only variants promoted. 2-7 Triple Draw Poker is available at many casinos, but the game rarely gets a mention on the front pages.
2-7 Triple Draw is a draw variant of poker and uses a lowball hand ranking system. In draw variants, players may discard cards from their hand and replace them with cards from the deck. The draw typically occurs before each betting round and occurs three times in 2-7 Triple Draw hence the name “Triple Draw”. What makes 2-7 Triple Draw poker so unique is the fact that you are chasing the exact opposite to most other poker games. You are trying to make the lowest or worst five-card hand possible. Each player is dealt five cards which nobody else can see and there will be an option to discard and replace unwanted cards in the course of the hand.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t try 2-7 Triple Draw Poker. It may not be the headline act when it comes to poker, but it’s certainly a worthy game to play. Many who play it even tend to prefer it over the other variants. Seriously, give it a shot. I think that once you get the hang of it, 2-7 Triple Draw will join your standard table game mix.
It’s Time to Spread Your Poker Wings
I get it, change can be scary. You’re used to Texas Hold ‘Em. You know how things work, that virtual seat at the table feels like part of your living room furniture, and you’re pretty good at it.
Being a noob all over again isn’t exactly fun. Or is it? 2-7 Triple Draw Poker works in a different way than what you’re used to, sure, but the learning curve is actually an enjoyable process. Especially if you’re used to playing big bet games (NLHE and PLO are played no-limit and pot limit, of course), the fixed betting limits of 2-7 Triple Draw may appeal to you as a nice change of pace.
Being a beginner is not a bad thing. It’ll actually add another layer to your skill level, as your brain will need to process information in a slightly different way, you’ll learn to be more alert during games, and your overall poker skills will reach yet another level.
It’s a Different Experience
There’s something unique about 2-7 Triple Draw Poker. It’s a young game, relatively speaking, but it has an old school feel. Aside from my own home games, when I think of 2-7 Triple Draw it goes hand-in-hand with thoughts of the mix in Bobby’s Game at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, with legends like Doyle Brunson, Eli Elezra, and Phil Ivey sitting around the table.
It also has a different aim from the variants, with the goal being to get the lowest possible hand without it being a straight. In this game aces are high, therefore, your best possible combination would be 2, 3, 4, 5, 7. It feels counterintuitive and even confusing at the beginning, but that’s what makes it an intriguing and different experience. Bluffing takes on a whole new meaning, as you can decide to “snow”, not exchange any cards even though you don’t necessarily have a great hand, in the hopes that your projected strength will encourage your opponents to fold.
And it’s that slight difference that makes trying this game a worthy pursuit. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Omaha and Texas Hold ‘em, but sometimes I want to mix things up a little bit and try something new. It keeps things fresh and exciting.
There’s a Solid Community
Wsop 2 7 Triple Draw
One of the things I love about playing poker is the social element. I like talking to other players, the trash talking, the miscellaneous stuff you share; it’s fair to say I’ve made friends for life along the way.
The 2-7 Triple Draw community is small, it’s niche, but it’s tightly knit. If you check out the Reddit Poker community, for example, you will find some good threads on strategies and just general conversation. I suggest becoming more than just a lurker and to join in on the conversation. It’s fun and it’ll make you a better player.
You Can Win Big Money
I’m going to leave you with the one that may ultimately convince you: with 2-7 Triple Draw Poker, you can winbig money. Perhaps not nearly as big as in Hold’em or Omaha, but certainly some sizeable amounts! And you don’t even have to be a seasoned pro to get a decent chunk of cash. Take Nicholas Seiken, for example. A real estate broker by day, hewon $287,987 on his very first tournament. Not too shabby.
Nicholas Seiken never entered a triple draw tournament before Thursday.
Three days later, the Texas native is taking down the most prestigious triple draw tournament on the planet, winning his first bracelet in the $10K 2-7 triple draw. https://t.co/289qCJSmHX pic.twitter.com/tksE3XwElQ
— WSOP (@WSOP) June 24, 2018
I’m not saying you’re going to walk away with a six-figure sum. That would be downright dishonest and misleading. But it’s certainly possible. If you’re a decent card player, it’s a shot worth taking.
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In this lesson we will examine the basics of 2-to-7 Triple Draw, which is a form of lowball and is sometimes referred to as “Kansas City Lowball”. In this game players have the opportunity to discard and draw to try and improve their hands – although the objective of 2-to-7 Triple Draw is to make the best low hand.
In 2-to-7 Triple Draw, aces are always high and flushes, pairs and straights count against a player’s hand. Under these rules, 2-3-4-5-6 is not a winning hand (because it is a straight). Players must break up their pairs, straights and flushes and hope to draw low cards to improve their hands.
As the name suggests, the best possible hand is 2-3-4-5-7, also know as a “seven-low”:
It can be any combination of suits (without making a flush) and these are the lowest five cards that don’t contain a pair or make a straight or a flush.
The Setup
The typical setup of 2-to-7 Triple Draw is as follows:
- A full table seats a maximum of 6 players
- It is typically played using a fixed-limit betting structure
- Blinds are used like in Texas hold’em and Omaha
- Each player receives five face down cards to begin
The Drawing Rounds
After the deal there is a round of betting. At the end of the first betting round, the first active player to the left of the dealer button can choose to draw cards to improve their hand. The player can also choose to “stand pat” and keep the hand as it is. Each player is in turn afforded the same opportunity of drawing cards.
After the first drawing round, another round of betting occurs, starting with the first player to the left of the dealer button. Once the players have called all the bets, players can choose either to draw again or stand pat.
After the second drawing round in a fixed-limit game, the minimum bet doubles. The remaining players draw a third time, followed by a final betting round. The remaining players then go to a showdown, with the winner taking down the pot.
In summary, there are three drawing rounds and four betting rounds (one before the initial draw). In a fixed-limit game the opening two betting rounds are small bets, and the betting doubles for the third and fourth betting round. The game can also be played with just one drawing round, and that version of the game is called 2-to-7 single draw.
The Showdown
2-to-7 Triple Draw rules dictate that the player counts from the highest card in his hand down to the lowest. It’s also much easier to work out your hand is you count backwards from the highest card rather than up from the lowest.
Here are some examples:
This would win against the following hand:
The first hand wins because it has the lowest high card (a nine vs. a ten).
If two hands share high cards of the same value, the next-highest card breaks the tie. For example:
Is lower than:
Poker 2-7 Triple Draww
If hands share the same two highest cards then the winner would be determined by the third, fourth and then fifth card if necessary.
2-to-7 Triple Draw Strategy
As with many lowball-type games, the drawing strategy may appear counterintuitive to players accustomed to games where high cards, straights and flushes are winning hands.
Players accustomed to Texas Hold’em and other stud games often encounter obstacles when making the transition to draw poker, primarily due to a lack of information about their opponent’s cards. Players therefore need to rely on the betting patterns and drawing habits of their foes. When a hand reaches a showdown you will get to see the hands your opponent plays. This is critical information that will help shape your strategy – provided you have been observant and studied your opponent’s betting patterns, drawing habits and other subtle clues.
With the widening popularity of poker games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, players can easily forget about the other varieties of the game. For players looking for a break from their regular game, 2-to-7 Triple Draw can prove both an entertaining distraction and a fascinating challenge.
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By Gerald Hanks
Gerald Hanks is from Houston Texas, and has been playing poker since 2002. He has played cash games and no-limit hold’em tournaments at live venues all over the United States.
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